Posts by Marty Dodson
This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Songwriting Scam – Writers Beware!
This past weekend, I was going through some old files. I found the document pictured here in a folder of papers that I took from my dad’s house after he passed away. My grandmother “Irene” was the first person to ever really encourage me to pursue writing. She would send me blank notebooks that I…
Read MoreMaking The Most of Your Songwriting Trip To Nashville (Or LA Or New York)
People ask me all the time how they can get the most “bang for their buck” when they visit a music center. So, I thought I would write a post about what I recommend when people are planning a trip to Nashville. The principles apply if you are visiting any other music center. Here is…
Read MoreSongwriters: How To Find Better Co-Writers
Finding the perfect co-writer can turn Elton John into a superstar. It can turn Burt Bacharach into Bacharach/David. But, how do you find the perfect person to collaborate with and make musical magic. For most of us, it involves kissing a lot of frogs before we find the prince. But, that’s not a bad thing.…
Read More5 Things I Would Tell My Younger Songwriting Self
I started writing songs when I was 11 years old. They were predictably bad, but heartfelt. Many were dedicated to girls in the neighborhood that I wished would notice me. If I could go back and talk to that little 11 year old guy, here are 5 things I’d tell him about songwriting. Being a…
Read MoreSongwriting Economics 101 – Why Won’t A Signed Staff Writer Write With Me?
We get the question all the time “Why won’t a signed staff songwriter write with me?” Most people are surprised to find out that the answer is economic and not personal in nature. Here are the economics of why staff writer’s are hesitant to write with unsigned writers: 1) Other unsigned writers who have gone…
Read MoreSongwriters: Are You Thinking Like An Artist?
If you are trying to write songs to pitch to artists, then you MUST learn to think like an artist. Here are questions that artists ask when they choose songs. They are also questions I ask myself as I’m writing to make sure I’m writing something an artist would want to say. 1) How does…
Read MoreHow To Pitch Your Songs Wisely or Don’t Be That Guy
One of the biggest mistakes I see rising songwriters make is pitching songs improperly. So, I wanted to give you some guidelines to help YOU pitch songs wisely and to not be that guy/girl that burns bridges by pitching the wrong way. Here are some things to consider when pitching. Follow instructions carefully. If they…
Read MoreSix ways to make your songwriting more commercial instantly.
1) Write a better first line. Interesting first lines grab the listener and make them want to hear more. They can be the difference in an artist or A&R person listening all the way through or passing on your song right away. 2) Make your chorus bigger. A chorus that leaps out of the speakers…
Read MoreReal Vs. Perfect – Do Yourself And Your Songwriting A Favor
When I saw this sign, it immediately struck a chord with me. Sometimes I’m very hard on myself. I expect myself to write a hit song every time out. I expect great blogs that move people every time I sit at the computer. I want to be the perfect husband, father and friend. The older…
Read MoreA Songwriter’s #1 Weapon: Do Something Real
One time, I was playing a songwriter show in Las Vegas and had one of the funniest, yet most profound experiences of my musical life. After the show, the hotel’s entertainment booking person wanted to have an “after party” with all of the writers who played and some of her special guests. So, after the…
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